Fox has picked up J.J. Abrams' X-Files-esque show Fringe and Joss Whedon's amnesiac-puppets-in-dystopia show Dollhouse for January 2009. And now Fox is taking more of an interest in Ron Moore's new astronauts-in-virtual-reality-show Virtuality, based on the reports that Peter Berg (Hancock, Dune) may direct the pilot and produce the show. Click through for more details on Virtuality and Fringe.

Abrams has rounded up an unusual crew of actors around the main character FBI agent Olivia Warren (Anna Torv, pictured above). Joining her is a mad scientist, Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble), and his Han Solo-esque son Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson) who apparently is a high school drop out with a gambling problem. The gang works together to uncover the secrets behind paranormal activity, sinister corporations and flesh-melting viruses. No word on what Greg Grunberg's likely cameo will be. [Variety]

This morning, we've got tons of forbidden secrets of Fringe, the X-Files clone from J.J.…
Read more Read more

Virtuality takes place aboard the Phaeton, which just so happens to be Earth's first starship. The Phaeton is on a ten-year journey exploring the outer cosmos. In order to help the crew cope with this long mission a virtual reality (which sounds a lot like Star Trek's holodeck) is installed. Of course something goes wrong between man and machine. The two-hour pilot was written by Battlestar Gallactica's Ron Moore and Michael Taylor. [Variety]

Advertisement

Advertisement

We can only hope Fox has learned the error of its Firefly-snuffing ways. The network has killed several great science fiction shows in their infancy, but maybe the renewal of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles shows it's turning over a new leaf.